Earth

Iceland is new. At least geologically. Emerging from the rifting of the two massive plates, it is mostly covered in the soils and rock only recently formed. It is a new land, even the fossils are considered less than 15 million years old.

Iceland lies in the north, but still below the Arctic Circle. From the south the brunt of the North Atlantic storms drive drenching rain along the coast, filling the rivers, yet the interior is arid and dry. From the North the cold arctic blast descend to bring snowfall and hence the origin of it being called Snæland by early explorers.

It is newly inhabited. Only since the Vikings crossed from Europe has it seen humankind. To survive, Icelanders used the driftwood, whale bones and sod blocks to build and provide shelter. They developed a unique agriculture relying on the Icelandic pony and sheep. They traded cod and whale and today leverage their enormous geothermal energy resources to support industry.

Drive around the island and you luxuriate in the lure of this land. Green rolling fields, valleys hidden in mists, moss covered basalt flows. Lake and waterfalls in the volcanic panoramic. Miles of glacial till still raw and untamed from the last Jökulhlaup or ice burst flood.